January/February weight management challenge

[shootingstar]

The exchange thing is using diabetic exchanges to eat, and it divides the food world into starches, proteins, vegetables, fruits, fats, milk/dairy. I'm supposed to eat a combination of these foods every day. Each "exchange" is equal to a portion sized amount of a food (for example 1 oz of chicken breast is considered 1 lean meat). But this is a really difficult way of eating unless you eat a lot of processed foods (the boxes come with the exchanges listed on the side for the most part). It kind of works out to be just under about 100 calories for a starch exchange, for example. It's not really direct and it varies when you combine food. For example, it's bizarre to me that hummus is considered 1 lean meat and 1 fat. I'm sure there's logic to it, but it's very strange.

Anyway, I am thinking of lowering 200 calories and kind of "cheating" on the exchanges (eating less). I'm eating right now about 1800 calories, even though the nutritionist told me the exchanges should equal 1650 (it doesn't! add up to that...).

I'll reduce it and just eat less of the starches.

What is "but I have PCOS/IR" that you mentioned later in this thread?

Anyway, how confusing this exchange way of eating. I am not diabetic but I did have a close blood sugar test reading to diabetes 2.

Though not life threatening, I eliminated white rice from my diet in last 2-3 yrs. (I do have sushi and sashimi 2-3 times per yr.) and cut back eating bread by 80%. I don't get high glycemic/sugar crashes as much. It's just that I know now if I eat these foods I don't feel well...ie. exhausted.

Now drinking white wine has more of a negative effect on me compared to a decade ago.

There are certain natural fruits that are much higher in natural sugars for you to just be moderate in intake: grape, pineapple, watermelon.

But then I don't know what your medical issues are. So I'm just relaying my experience (and I have to combine diet with daily exercise) and a sister of mine who lost 50 lbs. by reducing high glycemic food intake. (there are books on high glycemic foods). I don't count calories, I stick to whole foods --real produce. The most processed foods (some aren't truly that processed at all), I have in the cupboard is...soy sauce, cornflakes, yogurt, chili paste, chili soy bean paste, tinned salmon and tuna. I guess some light pasta counts too. Hummus is great...for me in smaller amounts before I go overboard.